We marked our 10th birthday with a wonderful evening of Cake and Cocktails–delicious homemade cake from Norma and Ruth H and a cocktail showcase courtesy of Ben, our favourite cocktail maestro and well known to the Cake Club!
We reminisced with a selection of photos of what we got up to over the last 10 years and noted how grateful we are that we’ve been able to continue meeting over Zoom all through the lockdowns and are now able to resume gathering in person.
We want to acknowledge our gratitude to Gill and Yvette, our two remaining SGWI founder members, for their part in establishing SGWI and for still being with us!
We had two collections – many thanks to all who brought warm coats for WrapUp London, as organised by Gill, and pictured are our donations together with those from local St Aidan’s Primary School and out of sight a third sack which was filling up fast. And there was a generous collection of toiletries and children’s toys for Solace Women’s Aid (organised by Michele) as our contribution to mark Action For No More Violence: 16 Days of Action: Against Gender-Based Violence.
Fancy a cocktail?
A big thanks to Ben for sharing the details of what he made for us:
I served Long Manhattans: Whisky (Bourbon is good for sweeter or classic rye for dryer), 50ml (or 25ml for a school night), Sweet Vermouth, 25ml and a few dashes of Angostura bitters. Mix all over ice and add soda or tonic as preferred and a slice of orange or grapefruit.
You can add Campari to that and take out the soda, bitters and just keep all the ingredients the same measurement ie 25ml x 3 and that will be a Negroni. Just mix all over ice in a glass and add orange zest or drink long by topping up with soda.
Over Christmas, take Campari and sweet vermouth in equal measures and top with champagne or prosecco making a Spagliato. Swapping out the vermouth for port or sherry makes interesting drinks too.
I also served dry/Bianco vermouth with gin and tonic or soda. This is like a long martini. You can start out with 50ml gin, 15ml dry vermouth, and mix over ice and strain into a martini glass or you can just pour it over ice and top up to enjoy for longer.
There are now also plenty of no alcohol alternatives in the supermarkets to swap out for. Garnish with olives, lemon or even herbs such as rosemary or thyme. You can replace vermouth with white wine or use dry sherry.